Understanding Mifepristone: Uses and Benefits.

Mifepristone is a drug used in combination with misoprostol to end a pregnancy without surgery, known as medication abortion. It blocks a hormone necessary for pregnancy to continue, while misoprostol brings on uterine contractions to expel the pregnancy. Medication abortion is safe and effective, with low rates of adverse events and high patient satisfaction. It is used for pregnancies up to 10 weeks in the US and up to 12 weeks according to WHO guidelines. About half of legal abortions in the US and three-quarters in Europe use medication abortion, and it is also used illicitly in places with restricted access to legal abortion.